Should You Put Sunscreen on Infants? Not Usually

You're at the beach, slathered in
sunscreen. Your 5-month-old baby is there,
too. Should you put sunscreen on her? Not usually, according to Hari Cheryl
Sachs, M.D., a pediatrician at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

"The best approach is to keep
infants under 6 months out of the sun," Sachs
says, "and to avoid exposure to the sun in the hours between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.,
when ultraviolet (UV) rays are most intense."

Sunscreens are recommended for children and adults. What makes babies so
different?

For one thing, babies' skin is much thinner than that of adults, and it
absorbs the active, chemical ingredients in sunscreen more easily, explains
Sachs. For another, infants have a high surface-area to body-weight ratio
compared to older children and adults. Both these factors mean that an infant's
exposure to the chemicals in sunscreens is much greater, increasing the risk of
allergic reaction or inflammation.

The best protection is to keep your baby in the shade, if possible, Sachs
says. If there's no natural shade, create your own with an umbrella or the
canopy of the stroller.

If there's no way to keep an infant out of the sun, you can apply a small
amount of sunscreen - with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 - to small
areas such as the cheeks and back of the hands. Sachs suggests testing your
baby's sensitivity to sunscreen by first trying a small amount on the inner
wrist.

Cover Up

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests dressing infants in
lightweight long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and brimmed hats that shade the
neck to
prevent sunburn. Tight weaves are better than loose. Keep in mind that
while baseball caps are cute, they don't shade the neck and ears, sensitive
areas for a baby.

Summer's heat presents other challenges for babies.

Younger infants also don't sweat like we do, Sachs says. Sweat naturally
cools the rest of us down when we're hot, but babies haven't yet fully developed
that built-in heating-and-cooling system. So you want to make sure your baby
doesn't get overheated.

In the heat, babies are also at greater risk of becoming
dehydrated. To make
sure they're adequately hydrated, offer them their usual feeding of
breast milk
or formula, says Sachs. The water content in both will help keep them well
hydrated. A small of amount water in between these feedings is also okay.

Sun Safety Tips for Infants

Here are some things to keep in mind this summer when outside with infants:

Keep your baby in the shade as much as possible. If you do use a small amount
of sunscreen on your baby, don't assume the child is well protected.

Make sure
your child wears clothing that covers and protects sensitive skin. Use common
sense; if you hold the fabric against your hand and it's so sheer that you can
see through it, it probably doesn't offer enough protection.

Make sure your baby
wears a hat that provides sufficient shade at all times.

Watch your baby
carefully to make sure he or she doesn't show warning signs of sunburn or
dehydration. These include fussiness, redness and excessive crying.

Hydrate!
Give your baby formula, breast milk, or a small amount of water between feedings
if you're out in the sun for more than a few minutes. Don't forget to use a
cooler to store the liquids.

Take note of how much your baby is urinating. If
it's less than usual, it may be a sign of dehydration, and that more fluids are
needed until the flow is back to normal.

Avoid sunscreens containing the insect
repellant DEET on infants, particularly on their hands. Young children may lick
their hands or put them in their mouths. According to AAP, DEET should not be
used on infants less than 2 months old.

If you do notice your baby is becoming
sunburned, get out of the sun right away and apply cold compresses to the
affected areas.

SOURCE: FDA.gov. Should You Put Sunscreen on Infants? Not Usually. June 25, 2012